The “git range-diff” command is a Git feature used to compare and display the differences between two commit ranges. It allows you to examine the changes between two versions of a branch, making it easier to understand the modifications made over a specific period.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of how “git range-diff” works:
1. Specify the Commit Ranges: To use “git range-diff,” you need to specify the two commit ranges you want to compare. These commit ranges can be in various forms, such as branch names, commit hashes, or relative references.
2. Run the Command: Once you have the commit ranges defined, you can execute the following command:
# git range-diff [commit-range-1]..[commit-range-2]
Replace [commit-range-1] and [commit-range-2] with the specific commit ranges you want to compare.
For example, to compare the changes between the “master” branch and a feature branch called “feature-branch,” you would run:
# git range-diff master..feature-branch
3. Analyzing the Differences: After executing the command, “git range-diff” will display a comparison of the two commit ranges, showing the differences between them. It provides a summary of added, modified, and deleted lines, as well as information about file changes.
The output typically includes a section for each commit in the range, displaying a brief commit message and statistics about the changes introduced by that commit.
Additionally, “git range-diff” generates a summary at the end, indicating the overall impact of the changes and whether the range is net positive or net negative.
By using “git range-diff,” you can gain a comprehensive overview of the modifications made within a specific commit range. This command helps you understand the differences between two versions of a branch or any other commit ranges you wish to compare.
It’s important to note that “git range-diff” is a relatively new feature and may not be available in older versions of Git. Ensure that you have an up-to-date version of Git installed to utilize this command.
git range-diff Command Examples
1. Diff the changes of two individual commits:
# git range-diff commit_1^! commit_2^!
2. Diff the changes of ours and theirs from their common ancestor, e.g. after an interactive rebase:
# git range-diff theirs...ours
3. Diff the changes of two commit ranges, e.g. to check whether conflicts have been resolved appropriately when rebasing commits from base1 to base2:
# git range-diff base1..rev1 base2..rev2
Summary
In summary, “git range-diff” is a useful command for comparing and analyzing the differences between two commit ranges. It provides a detailed overview of the changes made, helping you understand the modifications introduced over a specific period or between different versions of a branch.